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Paris - Former world number one Marcelo Rios was fined $2,500 on Saturday for telling journalists they "suck" at a Davis Cup tie.
The 42-year-old Chilean was sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) after he refused to be interviewed during the Davis Cup clash between Chile and Ecuador in Santiago.
"As my personal friend Diego Maradona says, I never speak to reporters as you all suck," Rios, the team's assistant coach, was filmed as saying.
When pressed, he added: "You can all keep sucking."
The ITF said in a statement: "Video footage of the incident was reviewed by the tie referee who determined that Mr Rios's comments were abusive and violated the Davis Cup code of conduct.
"The ITF condemns all forms of offensive behaviour and is supportive of the work of the media."
Rios was world number one in 1998 but never managed to win a Grand Slam singles title, losing his only major final to Petr Korda at the Australian Open in the same year.
